Carriage step selector arrangement for proportional spacing control of a typewriter



May 4, 11965 H. ELSNER ETAL CARRIAGE STEP SELECTOR ARRANGEMENT FOR PROPORTIONAL SPACING CONTROL OF A TYPEWRITER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1, 1965 tEW Qitorngy May 4, 1965 H. ELSNER ETAL CARRIAGE STEP SELECTOR ARRANGEMENT FOR PROPORTIONAL SPACING CONTROL OF A TYPEWRITER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1, 1965 E mcbvaw E mm in n N v m //VVf/V70Ff$ Wans fi'lsner' IUaZZer Behr' 61 f 72210726281 5- 51771? a y 1955 H. ELSNER ETAL CARRIAGE STEP SELECTOR ARRANGEMENT FOR PROPORTIONAL SPACING CONTROL OF A TYPEWRITER Filed April 1, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 /9 Spacing Control V 7 Delay LECTE UPIBATED Cd/VTZOL,

v VENTORS Hans E/sner and Walter Behr United States Patent ()filice 3,181.,b83 Patented May 1965 11 tClaims. (Cl. 197-84) This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Serial No. 250,586, now abandoned, filed January 10, 1963, and carrying the same title as the subject case.

The present invention concerns a carriage step selector arrangement for proportional spacing control of an electrically driven typewriter, and more specifically in connec tion with a typewriter including character keys individually assigned to different pairs of characters, respectively, and having shift means for shifting between normal printing positions and shifted printing positions of the type printing means, particularly the positions assigned respectively to a pair of upper case and lower case type faces of a particular letter. Typewriters of this kind are usually equipped with electrically operable control means for determining after key operation the selectable size of the typewriter carriage step depending upon the width of the character printed upon such key actuation.

The invention is particularly concerned with a simplification of the electric control of such a machine. The invention has particular significance when the typewriter is to be equipped with controls by which it is rendered capable of producing, when desired, words or the like with single or multiple interspacing between consecutive characters.

In known typewriter arrangements of the above character, e.g., that described in our copending application Ser. No. 250,587, filed January 10, 1963, the typewriter carriage is able to carry out, for the purpose of proportional spacing, steps of different sizes depending upon the width of a particular character that has been typed. These step sizes are multiples of a preselected step unit so that, for instance, for the letter I a step equal to two step units would be required while the carriage step in the case of the letter W would. carry out a step amounting to live step units. For the purpose of interspacing one or more such step units would be added to the standard proportional step. In such typewriters a plurality of bus bars is pro vided each of which is assigned to a different plurality of step units. Each typewriter key or type lever is associated with the respective bus bar which is assigned to the type width corresponding to that which is characteristic of the character produced by the actuation of the particular key or type lever. Through the closing of type key or lever operated contacts upon actuation thereof electric energy is applied to the respectively corresponding bus bar from where this electric energy is transmitted to the corresponding control means, e.g., electromagnets, which determine after a key actuation the size of the typewriter carriage step to be carried out after the respective key actuation.

Since most characters, particularly letters, produced in normal printing position N (e.g., lower case letters) have a width different from that of the character produced by the same type lever when the typewriter is in shifted printing position U (e.g., a corresponding upper case letter) so that the corresponding carriage step size s differs from the step size s it is necessary to provide in the circuit between the individual key or lever operated contacts and the bus bars changeover switches.

- i If now additionally the requirements of interspaced typing, particularly with single or multiple interspacing, are to be complied with, then an interspacing selector switch cooperating with all the typewriter keys must be provided but this selector switch would have to comprise one selector contact arm for each of the terminals of the above-mentioned change-over switches and additionally a selector contact arm associated with those characters which have s =s It is evident that particularly if different amounts of interspacing, are to be used selectively for each pair of characters printable by a corresponding key actuation the structure of the interspacing selector switch would be necessarily veryinvolved and expensive in addition to requiring considerable space and being subject to disturbances or failures.

It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to avoid these difiiculties and to provide for a control circuit arrangement which is comparatively simple, inexpensive and reliable.

It is another object of this invention to provide for an improved electrical control arrangement for the purpose set forth in which for each characteristic combination of character widths within pairs of associated type faces only one change-over switch is required, and wherein only one interspacing selector switch is required in connection with those different changeover-switches, respectively, which are assigned to a character width combination in which the width of the particular characters of a particular pair thereof is the same both in the normal printing position and in the shifted printing position.

It is still another object of this invention to provide for an electrical control arrangement of the type set forth in which, however, the step of actuating type selector and type lever drive electromagnets is carried out as far as possible without loss of energy.

With above objects in mind the invention includes a carriage step selector arrangement for proportional spacing control of an electric typewriter including character keys individually assigned todiiferent pairs of characters, respectively, and shift means for shifting between normal printing position and shifted printing position of type printing means, particularly the position assigned respectively to a pair of upper case and lower case type faces of a particular letter, and having electrically operable control means for determining after a key actuation the selectable size of the typewriter carriage step depending upon the width of the character printed upon such key actuation, comprising, in combination, a plurality of control contact means connected with a source of electric energy and respectively cooperating with said character keys for being moved to closed position when the respective key is actuated; a plurality of bus bar means each being assigned respectively to a different characteristic combination in a character pair of the width of the character printable by a key actuation in said normal printing position with the Width of the other character of such pair printable in said shifted position, all these control contact means which are actuatable, respectively, by a key assigned to a pair of type faces of a particular combination of widths being connected with the respectively corresponding one of said bus bar means; a plurality of changeover switch means respectively assigned to different ones of said width combinations and having each a movable contact member connected with the bus bar means assigned to the respectively corresponding width combination and two stationary contacts of which the first one is assigned to the one character width of the particular width combination and the second one is assigned to the other character width thereof, said plurality of change-over switch means being jointly movable by said shift means between a first position in which said movable contact member engages said first stationary contact and a second position in which .9 it engages said second stationary contact; and a plurality of output means for applying an electric potential appearing upon actuation of a character key at any one of said stationary contacts of said changefover switch means to those of said control means which are assigned to deteramine a carriage step of a size depending upon the type FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a standard carriage step selector arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating the improved carriage step selector arrangement according to the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating a modification of the arrangement of FIG. 1. 7

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the typewriter keys are symbolically illustrated by control buttons each being operatively connected with a pair of normally disengaged movable contact members 10 and 10" individually cooperating with corresponding stationary contacts as shown. By way of example the individual key members 10 and the associ-' ated contact arms are shown as being associated with certain characters as indicated, namely: 1, Q, A, 2, Y, W, R, F, 5, 1, M, 8 and I. The remaining two keys marked (3) and (4), respectively, are space keys intended to cause a carriage step corresponding to three and four stepunits, respectively. All the movable contact members 10 are connected with a .bus bar 11 supplied atone end thereof with negative potential from asource of electric energy, not shown. buttons 10 and by the resulting engagement of the respec tive contact member 10 with the associated stationary contact the respectively connected electromagnet 32 of a standard type lever drive coupling is energized via transistor 15 connected to a positive potentiaLQ Hereby the respective type lever is selected for a printing operation. When any one of the keys or buttons 10 is actuated the respective contact member 10" ismoved, simultaneously with 10' or preferably with a slight delay, into By actuation of'any oneof the vkeys or a the end of a step of predetermined magnitude. For purpose of explanation it may be assumed that the output terminals 2-7 lead to six difierent stop magnets determining respectively carriage steps of ditferent magnitudes ranging between two step units to seven step units, respectively. Details of such a stop arrangement are described for instance in our copending application Serial No.

Referring now to FIG. 1 which does not illustrate the improvement offered by the invention, a plurality of change-over switches 17 is provided, the movable contact members whereof are jointly movable between the illustrated position to a second position by actuation of the conventional shift control of the typewriter. The movable contact members of the individual change-over switches 17 are respectively connected with a correspond ing one of the diodes 13". The illustrated position of the movable contact members of the switches 17 corresponds to normal printing position while the-respective second position thereof would correspond tothe shifted printing position.

A group of six bus bars 19 is provided each of which is assigned to a dilferentmultiple of the above-mentioned unit step, for instance the bus bar 19 is assigned to a step size equal to two step units while the bus bar 19 is assigned to a step size equal to seven step units. As shown in the left part of the diagram each of the bus bars 19 -49 is'respectively connected with one of the abovementioned terminals2-7. V p

For the purpose of carrying out, in addition to the. spacing or stopping in accordance with the various widths of the printed characters, also single 'or double interspacing between such characters spacing selector switches 18 are provided between the change-over switches 17 and the respectively applying bus bars 19. As can be seen every one of the selector switches has two movable members and all of these movable members of the selector switches 18 are jointly movable 'by'means of a common push bar or the like operable by a spacing control not shown in detail. The first one of the movable control arms of the a switch 18 is connected with one of the stationary contacts engagement with the respective stationarycontact connected with another bus bar 12 which is supplied from the source of electric energy with positive potential via a resistor R Upon such closing of a switch member 10" the positive potential'of 'bus bar 12 is transmitted across a rectifier or diode 13' to a third bus bar 14 which In 7 a manner, well known and not illustrated the energization of this electromagnet 32 .causesa coupling member of the particular type lever drive to move into the path of a drivemember which is common for all the individual type lever drives This last-mentioned drive member is of the typewriter. moved by the energization of another electromagnet '33 'which is energized via a second transistor 35v which is rendered conductive together with the transistor 15 but through a delay device 34; I v 7 When any one of the movablecontact'mernbers 1 0" is moved into engagement with its associated stationary 0on V tact a current impulse is also applied via another diode of the corresponding change-over switch 17, while the other movable arm of that selector switch 18' is connected with the other stationary contact of the respective changeover switch. Thus, depending upon the position of the movable members of the change-over switches 17, i.e., in relation to either normal printing position or shifted printing position, the positive potential furnished via the respective diode 13" will be applied to one or the other of the movable contact members of the respective selector switch 18. Each movable member of a selector switch 18 is movable from the normal position illustratedto either one of two other positions'in which single or double interspacing is caused. The stationary contact of a switch18 engaged by its movable member in normal position is connected with that one of the bus bars 19 which is assigned tothe respectively,applying,characterwidth. When theiparticular movable, member of switch 18is moved to second position then it engages a stationary contact which is connected with that one of the bus bars 19 which is assigned to a step size or'character width differing from that one to, which the normal position of that. switch 18 isrrelated by an amount equal to one step unit. Similarly, the third position of that switch 18 would establish con- ;nection-to a bus bar 19 assigned to a character width or step differing from the first mentioned one bytwo step units. For the purpose of explanation one circuit rel-ated to a the leter W is shown in bold lines. Thus, the key or rbui 13"-through control means'described further below to a selected one of the-above-mentionedstep determining control means, more specifically to a corresponding elee tromagnet, not shown, which controls a stop'meinber' of conventional type which stops the typewriter" carriage fat ton 1 9 for'the letter W may be actuated while the shift control is in normal position. Consequently, the switch 2 ;17 is innormal-po sition as illustrated while the spacing control is alsolin normal position. The respective switch 181's thus in normal position, as showni Thelc'orrespondtion for producing the lower case letter w, not only through the closing of the contacts 16 and It)" but at the same time, via a diode 13", and corresponding switches 17 and 18, an impulse is applied to the bus bar 19 The impulse is then transmitted from the bus bar 19 via terminal 4 to the corresponding stop electromagnet mentioned above so that after the typing of the letter w the carriage step will amount to tour step units. Had the shift control been actuate-d for printing the upper case letter W and consequently the switch 17 been moved to its second position then the second movable member of the selector switch 18 would have caused accordingly the current impulse through the diode 13" to. be applied to the bus bar 19 so that now the carriage step would have been equal to five step unit-s corresponding to the greater widths of the upper case letter W because in this case the impulse would have been transmitted to the corresponding stop magnet via output terminal 5.

If under the same conditions single in-terspacinghad been desired and the spacing control been actuated accordingly, then the movable switch members of the switch 18 would have been moved to a second position and in the case of normal printing position the impulse through diode 13" would have been applied to the bus bar 19 so that the normal step of four step units for the lower case letter w would have been increased by one unit step. In the case of printing the upper case letter W the normal I step of five step units would have been increased to six step units. Analogously, in the third position of the movable contact members of the switch 18 the above-mentioned normal steps would have been increased by two step units.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the above described arrangement necessitates the provision of a comparatively great number of change-over switches 17 and of corresponding spacing selector switches with the corresponding number of various stationary contacts as well as of a c rresponding number of connections to the bus bars 19. This disadvantage is very successfully overcome by the invention as illustrated by FIG. 2. In order to very substantially reduce the number of change-over switches and spacing selector switches a second set of six bus bars 50 is provided between the various output diodes 13" and the change-over switches 17 and selector switches 18'.

Each of the bus bars 59 is assigned to a different combination of the character width-s occurring in the diiferent pairs of characters to be printed in normal printing position and shifted printing position, respectively. These different width combinations may be expressed as the ratio between SN and s and may include the combinations 2/2, 2/4, 3/3, 3/4, 4/5 and 5/5. The individual bus bars 50. are assigned to these different width combinations as indicated in FIG. 2. As can be seen, according to the invention only three change-over switches 1'7 are provided and assigned only to those width combinations in which the width of the characters in lower and upper case or normal or shifted printing positions differ from each other, namely the combinations 2/4, 3/ 4. and 4/5. In all those cases where the character width is the same in =l-ower and upper case or in normal and in shifted printing position namely 2/2, 3/3 and 5/5 the correspondingly assigned bus bar 59 is directly connected with a corresponding one of the spacing selectors switches 13' which are otherwise connected wit-h the bus bars 2'19 in the same manner as described in reference to FIG. 1. Consequently, the selector switches are not double-pole switches but single pole switches and are respectively assigned only to the different character widths ranging between two to dive unit-s step. The change-over switches 17 assigned to the above mentioned unequal combinations have, as in the case of FIG. 1, each two-stationary contacts 117' and 17' Accordingly, each of the 5 tor switches 18 which is assigned to the respective character width.

For instance, in a particular type style the letters Q and A require a step equal to three step units in lower case and a step equal to four step units in upper case. Accordingly, the contacts 10" assigned to these characters are connected with the corresponding one of the bus bars 50. On the other hand, for instance the letter 1 requires only a step equal to two step units .both in upper and in lower case. Consequently the contact 10 assigned to the letter I is connected with the bus bar 50 assigned to the combination 2/2.

For the purpose of explanation one circuit concerning the printing of the letter W is stressed by bold lines. When the key or button 10 for the letter W is actuated and the printing of the respective ietter effected while the shift control is in normal position and consequently the respective change-over switch 17' in its normal position as illustrated, and also the spacing control and consequently the switches 18' are in normal position, the current impulse through the diode 13" will first travel to the bus bar 50 assigned to the combination 4/5 and from there to the changeover switch 17 assigned to the same combination. The now engaged stationary contact of change o-ver switch 17' is now connected with the movable member of the select-or switch 18' in normal position so that the impulse is now taken to the bus bar 19 and from there to terminal 4 whereby the stop electromagnet determining a step of tour step units is actuated. Consequently the carriage step after typing the lower case letter w will amount to four step units. Had the shift control been actuated for printing the upper case letter W then the respective change-over switch 17' would have been in its second position and would have transmitted the current impulse to that one or" the selector switches 18' which in normal position as shown applies the pulse to the bus bar 19 so that the carriage step resulting therefrom would have been equal to five step units as required for the upper case letter W.

If under the same conditions the spacing control had been actuated so as to move the selector switches 18 to their second or third positions the pulses as described above would have been applied from one or the other of the stationary contacts of the change-over switch 17' assigned to the combination 4/5 to the bus bars 19 or 19 respectively, for the lower case letter w, and to the bus bars 19 or 19 respectively, for the upper case letter W, producing in these cases the respectively selected single or double interspacing.

In the case of printing letters or characters which have the same width within one pair thereof the respective pulses would have been transmitted from the particular bus bars 50 directly, without passing through any one of the change-over switches 17', to those selector switches 18' which are assigned to the particular character width.

It is evident, that the assignment of the various bus bars and switches to the different characters of the typewriter may change if different type styles are used. As can be seen, the space keys assigned to three-unit and four-unit spacings have their respective contact members it?" directly connected to the bus bars 19 and 19 respectively, independently of the switches 17' and 18. It should be evident from the above that the arrangement according to the invention as illustrated above by way of example in FIG. 2 constitutes a remarkable improvement over the prior art because the number of change-over switches, spacing selector switches andconnections is remarkably reduced.

It should be noted that the contact members'ld" in the above described arrangement carry out a double function since these contact members 10", when moved to closed position by actuation of the respective key member 10, close a circuit between the bus bar 12 and the bus bars 19 via rectifiers I3", and simultaneously close a circuit between the bus bar 12 and the bus bar 14 via rectifiers 7 13', whereby the transistor 15 is rendered conductive and thus the energization of the respectively associated eleca tromagnet 32 is initiated across the contact member 10 which has been moved to closed position when the key member 10 Was actuated which caused the closing of the associated contact member 10".

In a further aspect of this invention the above described arrangement can be utilized advantageously for improving the operation of the entire arrangement,

It has been found that if the energization of the electromagnet 32 is initiated by the closing of'the contact member 10' while both the bus bars 11 and 16 carry full potential, sparking develops at the contact member 10'. It is, therefore, desirable to avoid this sparking by arranging matters so that the individual contact member 10' is closed by actuation of the respective key member 10 be fore the bus bar 16 carries the operating potential, the closing of the associated contact member 10" occurring with a slight delay relative to the closing of the contact member 10' so that only then the transistor 15 is rendered conductive so as to apply operating potential to the bus bar 16.

It is evident that this particular arrangement is valuable after the associated contact member 10 hasbeen moved to closed position so that now the transistor having been rendered conductive is able. to establish anenergizing' circuit through the now closed contact member l and the associated electromagnet 32. I

FIG. 3 illustrates a modification of the circuit diagramof FIG. 1. In this case the polarities at the terminals of the circuit are reversed and correspondingly the connections with the electrodes of. the transistors 115 and 135 (which correspond to the transistors 15 and 35 of FIG. 1) are changed. While in FIG. 1 the control electrode of transistor 15 as well as of transistor 35 is the emitter electrode and the-output electrode is the collector 'electrode, in FIG. 3 the control electrode of transistor 115 as well as of transistor 135 is the base electrode thereof, and

' characters, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 7

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications. without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Patent is:

Letters 1. A carriage step selector arrangement for proporoperable control means for determining after a key actuation the selectablev size of the type writerrcarriage step depending upon the width of the character printed upon such key actuation, comprising, in combination, a plurality of control contact means connected with a source the emitter electrodes of these transistors act as output electrodes. Otherwise the operation of the arrangement 7 according to. FIG. 3 is entirely analogous to that described above in reference to FIG. 1.

Since both in FIGS. 1, 2'and' 3 all the contact members 10" are connected in parallel between the bus bars 12 and 14, it is also possible to eliminate from the arrangement all the contact members 10" .and the respectively asoperatively connected with all the key members 10in such'.

of electric energy and respectively cooperating with said character keys for being moved to closed position when the respective key is actuated; a plurality of bus bar means [each being assigned respectively to' a different character- ,istic combination in a character pair of the width of the character printableby a key actuation in said normal printing position with the width or the other character of such:pair printable in saidshifted position, all these control contact. means which are actuatable, .respectively,

'by a key'assigned to a pair'of type faces of a particular combination of widths being connected with the respectively corresponding one of said bus bar means; a plurality of change-over switch means'respectively assigned to different ones of said width combinations and having each a movable contact member connected with the bus bar means assigned to the respectively corresponding width combination and two stationary contacts of which the first one is assigned to' the |one character width of the,

particular widthcombination and the second one is assigned to the other character width thereof, said plurality of change-over switch means being jointly movable by said shift means between a first position in which said v movable contact member engages said first stationary contact and a second position in which it engages said second a manner that the one contact member 10 is moved to."

closed position whenever any one of the key members 10 is actuated; This can be done easily by means of a con arrangement of this particulartype evidently does notrequire. an illustration, since one has only to imagine that all the. key members 10 are mechanically coupled with each other'as far as ,the. operation of a single contact member 10" is concerned.

. It will be understood that each of the elements (16f scribed above orftwo or more together, may also findfl'a-a' useful application in other types of a carriage step selector arrangement for proportional spacing control of stationary contact; and a pluralityof output means for applying an electric potential appearing upon actuation of a character key at any one of said stationary contacts of saidchangeover switch meansto those of said control means which are assigned to determine'a carriage step of a size depending upon the type face width to, which the I respective stationary contact is assigned. 7

2. A carria'ge'step selector-arrangement for-proportional spacing control of an electric typewriter including character keysindividually assigned to different pairs of characters; respectively, and shift means for shifting between normal printin'g' position and shifted'printing posi- ;tion oftype printing means, particularly the positions assignedrespectiyely to a pairof upper case and lower case type faces ,of a 'particular letter, and having electrically operable ,control means for.- determining after a key actuation the select'ablef size of the typewriter carriage step depending upon the width of the character printed upon such key actuation, comprising, in combination, a plurality of control contact means connected with a source of electric energy and respectively cooperatingv with said character keys for being moved to closed position when the respective key is actuated; a plurality of bus bar means each being assigned respectively to a different characteristic combination in a character pair of the width of the character printable by a key actuation in said normal. printing position with the width of the other character of such pair printable in said shifted position, all these control contact means which are actuatable, respectively, by a key assigned to a pair of type faces of a particular combination of widths being connected with the respectively corresponding one of said bus bar means; a plurality of change-over switch means respectively assigned only to those different ones of said width combinations in which said width of said one character printable in said normal printing postion differs from that of said other character printable in said shifted printing position and having each a movable contact member connected' with the bus bar means assigned to the respectively corresponding width combination and two stationary contacts of which the first one is assigned to the one character width of the particular width combination and the second one is assigned to the other character width thereof, said plurality of change-over switch means being jointly movable by said shift means between a first position in which said movable contact member engages said first stationary contact and a second position in which it engages said second stationary contact; and a plurality of output means for applying an electric potential appearing upon actuation of a character key at any one of said stationary contacts of said change-over switch means to those of said control means which are assigned to determine a carriage step of a size depending upon the type face width to which the respective stationary contact is assigned.

3. A carriage step selector arrangement for proportional spacing control of an electric typewriter including character keys individually assigned to different pairs of characters, respectively, and shift means for shifting between normal printing position and shifted printing position of type printing means, particularly the positions assigned respectively to a pair of upper case and lower case type faces of a particular letter, and having electrically operable control means for determining after a key actuation the selectable size of the typewriter carriage step depending upon the width of the character printed upon such key actuation, comprising, in combination, a plurality of control contact means connected with a source of electric energy and respectively cooperating with said character keys for being moved to closed position when the respective key is actuated; a plurality of bus bar means each being assigned respectively to a dif ferent characteristic combination in a character pair of the width of the character printable by a key actuation in i said normal printing position with the width of the other character of such pairprintable in said shifted position, all these control contact means which are actuatable, respectively, by a key assigned to a pair of type faces of a particular combination of widths being connected with the respectively corresponding one of said bus bar means; a plurality of change-over switch means respectively assigned only to those different ones of said width combinations in which said width of said one character printable in said normal printing position differs from that of said other character printable in said shifted printing position and having each a movable contact member connected with the bus bar means assigned to the respectively corresponding width combination and two stationary contacts of which the first one is assigned to the one char- 7 acter width of the particular width combination and the second one is assigned to the other character width thereof,

said plurality of change-over switch means being jointly movable by said shift means between a first position in which said movable contact member engages said first stationary contact and a second position in which it engages said second stationary contact, those of said but bar means which are respectively assigned each to a different characteristic combination of character widths of a particular pair thereof in which said widths are equal to each other being each respectively connected to that one of said stationary contacts of said change-over switch means which is assigned to the particular character width of the respective pair; and a plurality of output means for applying an electric potential appearing upon actuation of a character key at any one of said stationary contacts of said change-over switch means to those of said control means which are assigned to determine a carriage step of a size depending upon the type face width to which the respective stationary contact is assigned.

4. A carriage step selector arrangement for proportional spacing control of an electric typewriter including character key individually assigned to different pairs of characters respectively, and shift means for shifting between normal printing position and shifted printing position of type printing means, particularly the positions assigned respectively to a pair of upper case and lower case type faces of a particular letter, and having electrically operable control means for determining after a key actuation the selectable size of the typewriter carriage step depending upon the width of the character printed upon such key actuation, comprising, in combination, a plurality of control contact means connected with a source of electric energy and respectively cooperating with said character keys for being moved to closed position when the respective key is actuated; a plurality of bus bar means each being assigned respectively to a different characteristic combination in a character pair of the width of the character printable by a key actuation in said normal printing position with the width of the other character of such pair printable in said shifted position, all these control contact means which are actuatable, respectively, by a key assigned to a pair of type faces of a particular combination of widths being connected with the respectively corresponding one of said bus bar means; a plurality of change-over switch means respectively assigned to different ones of said width combinations and having each a movable contact member connected with the bus bar means assigned to the respectively corresponding width combination and two stationary contacts of which the first one is assigned to the one character width of the particular width combination and the second one is assigned to the other character width thereof, said plurality of change-over switch means being jointly movable by said shaft means between a first position in which said movable contact member engages said first stationary contact and a second position in which it engages said second stationary contact; and a plurality of output means for applying an electric potential appearing upon actuation of a character key at any one of said stationary contacts of said change-over switch means to those of said control means which are assigned to determine a carriage step of a size depending upon the type face width to which the respective stationary contact is assigned, said output means including second bus bar means respectively connected with different ones of said control means assigned to different sizes of the typewriter carriage step, and spacing selector switch means each having a movable contact member and at least two stationary contacts, having their movable contact members respectively connected to selected ones of said stationary contacts of said.changeover-switch means and having their stationary contacts respectively connected to selected ones of said second bus oar means in such a manner that when. said selector switch means are in normal position with said movable contact members engaging the first ones of said stationary contacts thereof, respectively, a potential appearing at any one of said stationary contacts of said change-over switch means is applied to that one of said second bus bar means which is assignedto a carriage step size corresponding to the character width to which the respective stationary contact of said change-over switch, means is assigned, while when said selector switch .means are moved to positions in which said movable contact'members thereof engage other ones of said stationary contacts thereof a potential appearing at any one of said stationary contacts of said change-over switch means is applied to that one of said second bus bar means which is assigned to a carriage step size corresponding to the character width to which the particular stationary contact of said changeover switch means is assigned plus a predetermined amount determinable by said other positions and stationary contacts of said selector switch means, whereby in addition to proportional spacing automatic interspacing between consecutive printed characters is achievable.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein when n different step sizes corresponding to n different character widths are to. be dealt with, only n selector switch means are provided each beingassigned to a different step size corresponding to a character width, said characters, respectively, and shift. means for shifting.

between normal printing position and shifted printing position of type printing means, particularly the positions assigned respectively to a pairof upper case and lower case type faces of a particular letter, and having electrically operable control means for determining after a key actuation the selectable size of the typewriter carriage step depending upon the width of the character printed upon such key actuation,comprisingyin combination, a plurality 'of control contact means connected with a source of electric energy and re'spectivelycooperating with said character keys for being moved to closed position when the respective key is actuated; a plurality 'of bus bar means each being assigned respectively to a ones of said controlmeans assignedto different sizes of the typewriter carriage step, and spacingxselector. switch means each having a movable contact member and at least two stationary contacts, having their.mo.vable contact members respectively connected to selected ones of said stationary contacts of said changeover switch means and having their stationary contacts respectively connected to selected ones of said secondbus bar means in such a manner that when said selector switch means are in normal position with said movable contact mem-fv bers engaging the first .ones of said stationary contacts thereof, respectively apotential appearingatany one of said stationary contacts of said change-over switch means second bus bar means which isassigned to a carriage step is applied to that one of said second'bus bar means which is assigned to a carriage step size corresponding to thecharacter width to which the r'espectivestationary contact of said change-over switch means is assigned, while, when said selector switch means are moved to positions in which said movable contact members engage other ones of'said stationary contacts thereof a potential appearing at any one of said stationary contacts of said change-over switch means is applied to that one of said size corresponding to the character width to which the particular stationary contact of said change-over switch means. is assigned plus a predetermined amount determinable by said other. positions and stationary contacts of said selector switch means, whereby in additionto proportional spacing automatic interspacing between conv secutive printed characters is achievable.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein, when n'diiferent step-sizes corresponding to n different character widths are to'jbe dealt with, only n selector switch means are provided, each being assigned to a different step size. corresponding to a character width said movable contact members of. said n selectorswitch means being respectively connected to those. of said stationary contacts of said change-over switch means which are respectively assigned to the same step size corresponding to a character width as the corresponding selector switch. i p

8.'A carriage step selector arrangement for proportional spacing control of an electric typewriter including difierent characteristic combination in a character pairof the width of the character printable by a key actuation in said normal printing position with the width of the other character of such pair printable in said shifted position, all those control contact means which are actuatable,

respectively, by a key assigned to a pair of typefaces that of said other character printable in said shifted printing position and. having each a movable contact member connected with the bus bar meansiassigned' to the respectively corresponding width combination and two stationary contacts of which the first one is assigned to the one charactcr width of. the particular width combination and the second oneisassign ed to the other 'char- 7 acter width thereof, said plurality of change-over switch .means being jointly movable by said shift means between a first position in which said movable. contact member engages said first stationary contact and'a second posicharacter keys individually assigned to dilierent pairs of characters, respectively, and shift means for shifting'between normal printing position and shifted printing position of type printing means, particularly the positions assigned respectively to a pair of upper case and lower case type faces of a particular letter, and having electrically operable control means for determining after a key actuation the selectable size of the typewriter carriage step depending upon-the width'of the character printed upon such a key actuation, comprising, incombination, a plurality of control contact means connected with a source of electric energy and respectively cooperating with said character keysforbeing moved to closed position when the respective keyis actuated; a plurality of bus bar means each being assigned respectively to .a different characteristic tion in which it engages said second stationary contact;

'and a plurality of output rneans for applying an electric potentialv appearing upon actuation of a character key at any one of said stationary contacts of said change-over, switch means to thoserofsaid control means which are I assigned to determine a carriage step of a size depending upon the type face width to 'which'the respective stationcombination in a characterpair of the width of the charac-' ter printable by a key actuation in said normal. printing position with the width of the other character of such pair printable in said shifted position, all those control 7 contact means which are'actuatable, respectively, by a key Jassigned to a pair of type faces of a particular'combination of widths being connected with th'e 'respectively' cor- "responding one' of said bus bar,means; a plurality of I change-over switch means respectively assigned only to those different o'nesof said width combinations in which said width-of said one character printable in said normal printing position diifers fror'n that of said other characterprintable insaid shifted printing position and having'e'ach iamovable contact 'niember connected 'with the bus bar a If means assigned to the respectivelycorresponding width ary contact is assigned, said output means including vsecond bus bar means respectively; connected with different combination and two stationary contacts of which the first one is assignedto the one character width of the partic-.

1.3 ular width cornbination and the second one is assigned to the other character width thereof, said plurality of changeover switch means being jointly movable bysaid shift means between a first position in which said movable contact member engages said first stationary contact and a second position in which it engages said second stationary contact, those of said bus bar means which are respectively assigned each to a different characteristic combination of character widths of a particular pair thereof in which said widths are equal to each other, being each respectively connected to that one of said stationary contacts of said changeover switch means which is assigned to the particular character width of the respective pair; and a plurality of output means for applying an electric potential appearing upon actuation of a character key at any one of said stationary contacts of said change-over switch means to those of said control means which are assigned to determine a carriage step of a size depending upon the type face width to which the respective stationary contact is assigned, said output means including second bus bar means respectively connected with different ones of said control means assigned to different sizes of the typewriter carriage step, and spacing selector switch means each having a movable contact member and at least two stationary contacts having their movable contact members respectively connected to selected ones of said stationary contacts of said change-over switch means and having their stationary contacts respectively connected to selected ones of said second bus bar means in such a manner that when said selector switch means are in normal position with said movable contact members engaging the first ones of said stationary contacts thereof, respectively, a potential appearing at any one of said stationary contacts of said change-over switch means is applied to that one of said second bus bar means which is assigned to a carriage step size corresponding to the character width to which the respective stationary contact of said change-over switch means is assigned, while when said selector switch means are moved to positions in which said movable contact members thereof engage other ones of said stationary contacts thereof a potential appearing at any one of said stationary contacts of said change-over switch means is applied to that one of said second bus bar means which is assigned to a carriage step size corresponding to the character width to which the particular stationary contact of said change-over switch means is assigned plus a predetermined amount determinable by said other positions and stationary contacts of said selector switch means, whereby in addition to proportional spacing automatic interspacing between consecutive printed characters is achievable.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein, when n different step sizes corresponding to n different character widths are to be dealt with, only n selector switch means are provided, each being assigned to a different step size corresponding to a character width, said movable contact members of said n selector switch means being respectively connected to those of said stationary contacts of said change-over switch means which are respectively assigned to the same step size corresponding to a character width as the corresponding selector switch.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein, when n different step sizes corresponding to n different character widths are to be dealt with, only n selector switch means are provided, each being assigned to a different step size corresponding to a character width, said movable contact members of said :1 selector switch means being respectively connected to those of said stationary contacts of said change-over switch means which are respectively assigned to the same step size corresponding to a character width as the corresponding selector switch.

'11. A typewriter electrically operable and including a carriage step selector arrangement for proportional spacing control and including character keys individually assigned to different pairs of characters, respectively, and shift means for shifting between normal printing position and shifted printing position of type printing means, particularly the positions assigned respectively to a pair of upper case and lower case type faces of a particular letter, and having electrically operable control means for determining aftera key actuation the selectable size of the typewriter carriage step depending upon the width of the character printed upon such key actuation, comprising, in combination, a plurality of different type lever selector electromagnet means for selecting, when energized, the respectively associated characted to be printed upon a key actuation; a plurality of control contact means connected with a source of electric energy and respectively cooperating with said character keys for being moved to closed position when the respective key is actuated, each of said control contact means comprising a first contact member and a second contact member, said first contact member being moved to closed position together with, a slight delay relative to, said second contact member, and each of the second contact members being connected with a different one of said electromagnets, respectively; electrically actuatable energizing means connected in circuit with all of said first contact members of said control contact means for being actuated when any particular one of said first contact members is moved to closed position and for thereupon energizing the respectively associated type lever selector electromagnet across that one-of said second contact members which is moved to closed position together with said particular one of said first contact members; a plurality of bus bar means each being assigned respectively to a different characteristic combination in a character pair of the width of the character printable by a key actuation in said normal printing position with the width of the other character of such pair printable in said shifted position, said first contact members of all these control contact means which are actuatable, respectively, by a key assigned to a pair of type faces of a particular combination of widths being connected with the respectively corresponding one of said bus bar means; a plurality of change-over switch means respectively assigned to different ones of said width combinations and having each a movable contact member connected with the bus bar means assigned to the respectively corresponding width combination and two stationary contacts of which the first one is assigned to the one character width of the particular width combination and the second one is assigned to the other character width thereof, said plurality of change-over switch means being jointly movable by said shift means between a first position in which said movable contact member engages said first stationary contact and a second position in which it engages said second stationary contact; and a plurality of output means for applying an electric potential appearing upon actuation of a character key at any one of said stationary contacts of said change-over switch means to those of said control means which are assigned to determine a carriage step of a size depending upon the type face width to which the respective stationary contact is assigned.

References fitted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,031,017 2/36 Tevis 197-11 2,621,772 12/52 Reppert =197-12 2,717,686 9/55 Seeber 197-14 X 2,831,558 4/ 58 Toggenburger 197-84 2,865,488 12/58 Toggenburger 197-84 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CARRIAGE STEP SELECTOR ARRANGEMENT FOR PROPORTIONAL SPACING CONTROL OF AN ELECTRIC TYPEWRITER INCLUDING CHARACTER KEYS INDIVIDUALLY ASSIGNED TO DIFFERENT PAIRS OF CHARACTERS, RESPECTIVELY, AND SHIFT MEANS FOR SHIFTING BETWEEN NORMAL PRINTING POSITION AND SHIFTED PRINTING POSITION OF TYPE PRINTING MEANS, PARTICULARLY THE POSITIONS ASSIGNED RESPECTIVELY TO A PAIR OF UPPER CASE AND LOWER CASE TYPE FACES OF A PARTICULAR LETTER, AND HAVING ELECTRICALLY OPERABLE CONTROL MEANS FOR DETERMINING AFTER A KEY ACTUATION THE SELECTABLE SIZE OF THE TYPE WRITER CARRIAGE STEP DEPENDING UPON THE WIDTH OF THE CHARACTER PRINTED UPON SUCH KEY ACTUATION, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF CONTROL CONTACT MEANS CONNECTED WITH A SOURCE OF ELECTRIC ENERGY AND RESPECTIVELY COOPERATING WITH SAID CHARACTER KEYS FOR BEING MOVED TO CLOSED POSITION WHEN THE RESPECTIVE KEY IS ACUTATED; A PLURALITY OF BUS BAR MEANS EACH BEING ASSIGNED RESPECTIVELY TO A DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTIC COMBINATION IN A CHARACTER PAIR OF THE WIDTH OF THE CHARACTER PRINTABLE BY A KEY ACTUATION IN SAID NORMAL PRINTING POSITION WITH THE WIDTH OF THE OTHER CHARACTER OF SUCH PAIR PRINTABLE IN SAID SHIFTED POSITION, ALL THESE CONTROL CONTACT MEANS WHICH ARE ACTUATABLE, RESPECTIVELY, BY A KEY ASSIGNED TO A PAIR OF TYPE FACES OF A PARTICULAR COMBINATION OF WIDTHS BEING CONNECTED WITH THE RESPECTIVELY CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID BUS BAR MEANS; A PLURALITY OF CHANGE-OVER SWITCH MEANS RESPECTIVELY ASSIGNED TO DIFFERENT ONES OF SAID WIDTH COMBINATIONS AND HAVING EACH A MOVABLE CONTACT MEMBER CONNECTED WITH THE BUS BAR MEANS ASSIGNED TO THE RESPECTIVELY CORRESPONDING WIDTH COMBINATION AND TWO STATIONARY CONTACTS OF WHICH THE FIRST ONE IS ASSIGNED TO THE ONE CHARACTER WIDTH OF THE PARTICULAR WIDTH COMBINATION AND THE SECOND ONE IS ASSIGNED TO THE OTHER CHARACTER WIDTH THEREOF, SAID PLURALITY OF CHANGE-OVER SWITCH MEANS BEING JOINTLY MOVABLE BY SAID SHIFT MEANS BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH SAID MOVABLE CONTACT MEMBER ENGAGES SAID FIRST STATIONARY CONTACT AND A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH IT IT ENGAGES SAID SECOND STATIONARY CONTACT; AND A PLURALITY OF OUTPUT MEANS FOR APPLYING AN ELECTRIC POTENTIAL APPEARING UPON ACTUATION OF A CHARACTER KEY AT ANY ONE OF SAID STATIONARY CONTACTS OF SAID CHANGEOVER SWITCH MEANS TO THOSE OF SAID CONTROL MEANS WHICH ARE ASSIGNED TO DETERMINE A CARRIAGE STEP OF A SIZE DEPENDING UPON THE TYPE FACE WIDTH TO WHICH THE RESPECTIVE STATIONARY CONTACT IS ASSIGNED. 